Came home late so just finished watching the match.
I can't believe I won't be able to see Kei at Japan Open even though I'm going to the tournament five days!! Today and Friday are the only days I can't make it.

Yeah Kei needs to do something about his serve but it's not like he had no ace or service winners. What he needs is a clutch serve on big points.
It was Troicki who had trouble with his first serve early on in the first set, hence an early break. But gradually he settled down and he started dominating rallies too.

But it was nice to see flashes of what Kei can do when he's on song, like his ability to effortlessly redirect the ball and wrongfoot the opponent.

Kei had a skin-colour tape on his right wrist, beneath the wrist band. It didn't seem to hamper his play, but he was seen shaking his wrist early in the first set.

Next he will probably play Shanghai qualies. (He's alternate #1 for qualifying atm.)

Kei teamed up with Go Soeda and beat Navarro and Dodig in doubles R1, 4-6, 6-4, 10-2.
I also had a glimpes of them practicing before the match.
They started slowly but grew better and better and totally dominated the opponents in the match tie break.

I think Kei is IN using his real ranking two weeks ago and OUT with his protected ranking.

A Wilson staff tweeted that Kei will fly to Shanghai early Friday, so I think he will definitely go there.

Sorry guys, I couldn't watch Kei's and Go's doubles match today. When I went to Court 1 about an hour before the match, there was a long queue of people waiting to get in, and there was no way people already in the stand would leave! So I gave up...
They played very well yesterday but it was probably a tough ask today against the more experienced doubles players.

Kei teamed up with Go Soeda and beat Navarro and Dodig in doubles R1, 4-6, 6-4, 10-2.
I also had a glimpes of them practicing before the match.
They started slowly but grew better and better and totally dominated the opponents in the match tie break.

I think Kei is IN using his real ranking two weeks ago and OUT with his protected ranking.

A Wilson staff tweeted that Kei will fly to Shanghai early Friday, so I think he will definitely go there.

Sorry guys, I couldn't watch Kei's and Go's doubles match today. When I went to Court 1 about an hour before the match, there was a long queue of people waiting to get in, and there was no way people already in the stand would leave! So I gave up...
They played very well yesterday but it was probably a tough ask today against the more experienced doubles players.

Hope his wrist is OK and he will qualify in Shanghai!!

Hi Bunny
Yep i found it after i posted here, Nice to meet you
Hope i will see him play in Shanghai and catch some pix for you guys